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By Messenger Staff | Published Wednesday, November 28, 2012Tags: Wise County

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A Decatur man accused of trying to set fire to the Wise County courthouse and making a death threat to a prosecutor has been indicted on numerous charges by a grand jury.

Johnny Roy Pippin Jr., 26, was indicted Nov. 16 for retaliation, a third-degree felony, and arson intended to damage a place of assembly, a first-degree felony.

On the morning of Sept. 5, a thick, white, acrid smoke spread through the third floor of the courthouse, causing an evacuation of the building. Fire investigators found a bowl containing a burning substance in the bottom of a trash can in a third-floor bathroom.

The day before, a county employee had come across a handwritten message on the wall in a men’s bathroom in the courthouse basement. It contained several threats, including a threat to kill County Attorney James Stainton.

Review of security footage from the day the threat was discovered revealed Pippin carrying a backpack into the courthouse. Investigators believe he set up the bowl and chemicals in the trash can on the third floor bathroom at about 4:30 that afternoon, a day before he was scheduled to have a court appearance for a misdemeanor weapons charge.

He was due to be sentenced to 50 days in jail. Wise County Sheriff David Walker said the threat and attempted arson was a way for Pippin to try to get out of his court appearance.

Pippin was charged in the case Oct. 2.

The grand jury also indicted Pippin on a charge of theft of property valued between $1,500 and $20,000. According to the indictment, Pippin stole five laptops, a motorcycle helmet and a television in August of this year. And he was indicted for burglary of a building stemming from a June incident in which Pippin is accused of entering a building with the intent to commit theft.

Pippin is currently on probation after pleading guilty to felony charges of burglary in 2007.

He remains in the Wise County jail with bonds totalling more than $1 million.

Thanh Tuan Wright, assault by intentionally or recklessly impeding the breathing/circulation of a family member with a previous conviction (one count); assault family/household member with previous conviction